singlespeedscott wrote:I think the 26" wheel is dead for performance MTB but there is still a demand in the touring community.

For fast XC the current crop of 29er XC race weapons cannot be beaten by a 26" wheeled bike when using 2.2" tyres.

For general trail riding I think the consumer is better off using the current crop of 650b plus sized trail bikes. Roll over is as good as a 29er in the rough stuff and cornering grip is is in another realm. The move to long and slack trail geometry also gives you a lot more confidence in fast rough stuff. However I have to admit I am not a huge fan of the huge wheel flop associated with this geometry when slowly grinding up twisty stuff.

I've recently moved from an '11 Epic 26er to a 27.5+ HT. Great fun bike and rolls over chatter soooo much better than 26". It's got 3" tires so yes bit a slog. 2.8's are probably better suited to general trail riding, but with this model it would drop the BB to an unacceptable level. It can take 29" wheels and will probably get a set with 2.2 tires for longer rides. One of main reasons to move on was I just couldn't get the tires I like anymore (and a good deal going on the + bike). Still have an old '07 26" HT and will keep it going for commuter etc.

Yep I can see a move to 27.5 but it will only be when I just can't get tyres or the two bikes I have totally fall to bits, which I doubt. The tyre thing has been discussed on here and I'm very very lucky that I have a Totally independent bicycle shop local. I had picked up 26x1.75 pair tyres off the rack there only few months ago. And sourced 26x1.50 for a mate they ordered them and had them there the next day. So if the bikes fall to bits I may get the 27.5 but till then.

All about rider to bike size ratios. On my Xl old 26er I had to run 180 mm cranks plus a 130mm stem with a setback seatpost to get comfortable, but never really felt right in terms of my position and of wheel base and the overall height proportions.This kinda sums it up for me. Big and Tall Bikes | Science in the City | Exploratoriumhttps://youtu.be/G_wyFbXwyzUWould be keen on a 32er but happy with my 29er with 180 mm cranks

Its tight, steep geometry compared to modern trends, admittedly not helped by my aggressive setup makes it a bit of a skittish handful on technical descents, but on flowing singletrack and climbs its agility is unmatched by anything else I've ridden. I love it.

One thing I have found is that tyres for 26ers are cheaper than 29ers and 650B's, recently bought the latest Schwalbe TL Easy Nobby Nics and Racing Ralphs, they were both $10 plus cheaper. As long as this keeps happening I have no reason to "upgrade".

Last edited by Bentnose on Sat Mar 11, 2017 6:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The Motolite was one of the last Chris Cocalis bikes before he left and founded Pivot bikes. Design wise it was well ahead of the curve for trail bikes, slack (well it was back then!) and low with enough travel to take some pretty mean descents. In fact if you stack the geo numbers up against modern bikes, pretty much all that is missing is a slightly steeper seat tube for better climbing performance.

The Motolite was one of the last Chris Cocalis bikes before he left and founded Pivot bikes. Design wise it was well ahead of the curve for trail bikes, slack (well it was back then!) and low with enough travel to take some pretty mean descents. In fact if you stack the geo numbers up against modern bikes, pretty much all that is missing is a slightly steeper seat tube for better climbing performance.

Quite the visionary, that man.

Looking forward very much to my next XC bike having a steeper seat tube closer to my roadie in geometry. I've found moving my saddle up and forward has made a massive difference to my ongoing left lower back and knee injury issues - I just recruit my muscles much better in my pedal stroke with the saddle up and forward.

I think part of what's driving that trend is that mtbers are now doing their road miles on road bikes instead of putting slicks on their hardtails. I find that when I hop back on the XC bike that the pedal stroke isn't quite the same and generating the same power numbers on the knobby tyred bike is just a little bit harder and less comfortable than it used to be.

trailgumby wrote:I think part of what's driving that trend is that mtbers are now doing their road miles on road bikes instead of putting slicks on their hardtails. I find that when I hop back on the XC bike that the pedal stroke isn't quite the same and generating the same power numbers on the knobby tyred bike is just a little bit harder and less comfortable than it used to be.

That and it allows a slacker headtube without compromising climbing performance. I'm blown away how well modern geo trail bikes climb, I've just moved from a 2012 Trek Superfly FS, a 100mm XC bike with around a 70 deg HA, to an Intense Primer with a 140mm fork/ 130mm shock and a HA around 67 degrees. The Primer climbs as well as the Superfly, corners better and absolutely eats up downhills.

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